Boredom Busting Tips for Your Dog and You

Boredom Busting Tips for Your Dog and You

Are you getting that [INSERT A LOOK YOUR DOG GIVES YOU WHEN THEY'RE BOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRED] look more and more these days? Winter is still here and, whether your pup is a senior pup like Bella or a young pup, chances are that at least one of you isn’t thrilled about dropping temps, rain, snow or wind that may be happening where you are. Of course, here in Los Angeles winter can be pretty mild compared to other parts of the country.

No matter what winter looks like, it can be tempting to spend these months holed up watching movies and cuddling on the couch.  And there’s nothing at all wrong with that – until you and your dog are ready for it to be done. So, whenever that hits this winter, here’s a handy list of blah-busting winter activities you and your pup can enjoy together!

 

  • Play hide-and-seek: Bella and I have been playing hide and seek since we started training at J9’s K9’s when she was 2! This is a great game for anyone in your family to play with your dog. If you’ve never tried this with you’re pup, you’re both in for a treat! Plus, it’s fantastic practice for recall and can be played anywhere your dog’s able to be off-leash – even indoors. Here are some simple instructions for getting started >>

  • Give your dog a food puzzle: I like to give Bella some kind of food enrichment every day and food puzzles are a great way to keep your dog mentally active. Mental activity is just as important as physical activity. I have a blog linked here with some of my favorite food enrichment ideas you can check out plus I have some new slow feeder bowls in the shop that would be great for meal time.

  • Get crafty: I love crafts and I mean LOVE crafts! No matter your personal crafting abilities, winter is a fun time to get down and let those creative ideas flow. I especially love baking so a few times a month I will bake Bella and our neighbor dog friends some treats. I have a super easy 3 ingredient dog treat recipe here or You can get instructions and more ideas here >>

  • Give your dog a massage: Bella loves a massage and if I don’t give her one she will give herself one! Are wondering how a dog would give them self a massage? Bella rubs up against the bed while walking around it. She also loves to rub up against bushes which can be a scratch and a massage in one! While your dog will love you for it, massage can also be a great way for you to relax, practice mindfulness and also feel for any new lumps and bumps to talk to the vet about. Here are some tips for getting started >>

  • Practice a new cue or trick: Dogs learn best at first without distractions, which means time inside is a great time to start learning a new trick or cue together. And the old adage is totally wrong – old dogs can absolutely learn new tricks. In fact, sometimes their experience and patience can help them learn even faster! My favorite book for teaching tricks is 101 Dog Tricks. It has tons of tricks to choose from beginner to advanced.

  • Let their sniffer be your guide: Dog noses are amazing, and letting them sniff-free can lead you both to unexpected places and sights. So when the winter blahs get you, consider taking a short trip outside and letting your dog’s nose lead the way. You might be surprised where you end up!

  • Try Doga together: Mindfulness and mediation aren’t just for humans. Check out these fun pictures from the Seattle Humane Society’s Doga class and look locally for your own. Even if one isn’t in the area yet, you can practice meditating with your dog right from home.

  • Create a dog-friendly tunnel maze: This one’s a ton of fun if you have lots of post-holiday boxes laying around. Dogs love dens, so you can encourage them with a few treats and cozy blankets and they should love their temporary digs pretty quickly. This can, of course, be super fun for kids too, but be sure to watch carefully and separate dog-time and kid-time in the box maze to avoid a kerfuffle.

Have I left anything out? What’s your favorite way to blah-bust during the winter months? Email me and let me know!

Learning tricks can be fun at any age!



**This blog may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission which will help me be able to test out more dog products!

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